From the New York Herald, 5/19/1862

The Repulse of
Our Iron-Clad Gunboats in the James River.

The brief, incomplete, but very suggestive despatch which
we published yesterday of the repulse of our gunboats – the Monitor, Galena,
Naugatuck, Aroostook and Port Royal – from Fort Darling, on the James river,
seven miles below Richmond, passed like the shadow of an ugly cloud over this
metropolis. It was well for our stockjobbers and financiers, speculating upon
another victory as the next thing in order, that this ominous and sinister
looking first report of this repulse was published here on Sunday; for it had
come upon them suddenly this morning the bears would doubtless have seized the
opportunity for a panic and a raid among the astonished bulls and lame ducks of
Wall street. As it is, we presume there will be no such ridiculous sensation
among them today.

In the absence of any official detail in explanation of
this repulse, we think that we may undertake to account for it, and to the
satisfaction of our readers. First, the officers of our little squadron were
ignorant, until they reached it, of the strength and perhaps of the existence of
Fort Darling. Secondly, while it was doubtless extensively armed with rifled
guns of the heaviest calibre, from the Tredegar Works at Richmond, our squadron
could hardly bring over thirty pieces to bear against it. In the next place, our
gunboats, in the very narrow channel of the narrow river at Fort Darling, were
almost in a cul de sac in which they could neither manoeuvre to assist each
other nor get beyond the point blank range of the enemy’s batteries without
withdrawing from the contest; for we have no doubt that the advance of our ships
above the fort was prevented by obstructions in the channel of the stream.

We dare say that this explanation of this unfortunate
affair will be sustained by the facts. We speak only from some general knowledge
of the lower James river in the neighborhood of Richmond, and from the defensive
preparations there which have been recently hinted at by the Richmond
newspapers. It is evident that the gallant men of our little fleet did all in
their power to silence the enemy’s works. If we were disposed to find fault with
the conduct of our commanding officer, we should say that, having ascertained
the real strength of the enemy’s position, and the superior weight and pressure
of his artillery, our vessels should have been called off to await the
assistance of a co-operative land attack. But we have no complaint to make
against any brave officer, soldier or sailor who is now to be convinced that he
is fighting against impossibilities. It was this spirit of
unshrinking courage which carried the fleet of Commodore Farragut through
impediments supposed to be impassable to the city of New Orleans.

But the stubborn fact is before us that our advance towards
Richmond, by way of the river, has met with a decided check, and that, in
consequence of the restoration of the flag over that rebellious city depends
only to a greater extent upon the army of General McClellan. If we had a
dashing, enterprising and vigorous man of war of the present day at the head of
the Navy Department we should say without hesitation that this repulse of our
iron-clad gunboats in the James river is only the result of a mere
reconnoissance to ascertain the position and strength of the enemy’s works, and
that, having made these discoveries, the necessary means by land and water will
be immediately employed to reduce those works. But, as the venerable Mr. Welles
belongs to the old slow coach establishment of the last generation, we cannot
undertake to promise that he will do anything to restore the prestige of his
important branch of the public service at the very point where it has been so
seriously shaken, unless President Lincoln shall stir him up to his duty.

In default, however, of any further attempts to run the
rebel gauntlet of the James river to Richmond, we are quite easy, under the
conviction that they way will be opened by Gen. McClellan, although this repulse
of our little naval expedition will doubtless result in encouraging the rebel
army to a very stubborn resistance.